China Loans Ecuador $240 Mn for Security Program

Ecuador announced that it will receive a loan of $240 million from China for its new citizen security program, pointing to the Asian giant's role in Latin American security.

Belgian Cocaine Seizure Highlights Ecuador's Role in Transatlantic Market

The seizure of some eight tons of cocaine that had been shipped from Ecuador in a load of bananas and were bound for the Netherlands, points to the importance of…

Ecuador: Battleground Between Mexican and Colombian Cartels?

Mexican and Colombian groups may soon start battling it out for control of drug trafficking routes in Ecuador, something that could further threaten the country’s already precarious security situation.

Mapping Gun Smuggling Routes in Ecuador

Police investigators in Ecuador, long a source of arms for Colombian guerrillas, say that the routes used by gun runners stretch across the country, with most weapons entering via the…

Arrest of FARC Gunrunner Points to Ecuador's Illicit Arms Trade

The capture of a FARC operative who obtained arms for the guerrilla group in Ecuador is the latest sign that the country is increasing cooperation with authorities in neighboring Colombia…

Ecuador Seizes 'FARC' Arms Shipment on Peru Border

Ecuadorean authorities seized an illegal shipment of weapons allegedly destined for the FARC that included anti-aircraft munitions and sub-machine guns, on the border with Peru.

Ecuador Captures Suspected Russian Drug Trafficker

Ecuador's arrest of a Russian national suspected of drug trafficking points to the country's importance as a operating base for international criminal groups.

FARC Smuggle Explosives into Cities via Ecuador Border: Police

Colombian police have identified routes along the Ecuadorean border they say are used by the FARC to smuggle high-grade explosives into major Colombian cities.

Ecuador Identifies Illegal Crossings on Colombia Border

Ecuador's government has reported the existence of 26 unsanctioned border crossings into Colombia, which pose a security problem to both countries, as Ecuador is becoming an increasingly important drug transshipment…

'Colombian Gangs Use Illegal Gold Mining in Ecuador to Launder Cash'

Colombian criminal groups are reportedly using unlicensed gold mining in northern Ecuador to launder money, providing another window into how unregulated gold mining may be linked to organized crime in…

Ecuador's Drug Seizures Point to Growing Domestic Drug Market

Ecuador's authorities announced they had seized more than $1.5 million of narcotics that were to be sold in Quito which may point to a growth in domestic drug consumption.

Mexican 'Narco-Plane' Crashes in Ecuador

A suspect plane carrying over $4 million in cash crashed in northwest Ecuador, killing two Mexican citizens on board, in an indication of the importance of the country as a…